Clinton police believe they may have solved a rash of vehicle break-ins around the city with the recent arrest of two suspects who reportedly had many of the stolen items in their possession.
Assistant police chief Donald Edwards said the credit for bringing the cases to closure can be given to the department’s uniform division who have tenaciously worked the crimes and developed leads that brought them to the two suspects.
Jailed are Denia Cunningham, 31, and Brandon Dewitt, 25, both of 120 Kerr St. in Clinton. The pair are currently charged with possession of stolen goods. Cunningham remained in jail Thursday under a $7,000 bond; Dewitt is also still in jail under a $6,000.
According to Edwards, the two became suspects after diligent police work on the part of the uniform division.
“Sgt. Robbie King and his patrol team started look at the vehicle break-ins and the information they had. Robbie had a tip from a citizen about some suspicious activity in the area, and they began to piece all the evidence together and developed some suspects,” Edwards said.
King and his squad then worked with other members of the patrol team, sharing information they had.
Then, Edwards said, there were three more break-ins Tuesday in the Barrus Avenue and Badger Court areas of the city which helped officers link Cunningham and Dewitt to the crimes.
Officers obtained search warrants for 120 Kerr St. There they found and seized some $1,300 in stolen property, all believed to have come from vehicles broken into across the city over the past two months.
Edwards said the stolen property is linked to some 13 vehicle break-ins that have occurred on Oakland Boulevard, Barrus Avenue, Badger Court, Candlestick Court and other areas.
“The investigation is ongoing,” the assisstant police chief said. “The investigative unit and the uniform division are working together on this and we could possibly have more arrests and more charges later.”
In the vehicle break-ins, everything from debit and credit cards to GPS navigation systems, CDs, pocketbooks, wallets, electronic tablets and sunglasses have been stolen. “About everything you would imagine having in your car; that’s the kind of stuff that’s been stolen and that’s the kind of stuff we’ve not got in our possession,” Edwards said.
The assistant chief also pointed out that a large percentage of the vehicle break-ins that have occurred recently were to cars and trucks that were not locked, most of them parked at a person’s residence.
“It needs to be emphasized that everyone should lock their doors, whether at their residence or somewhere else,” Edwards admonished. “And people shouldn’t keep any valuables in plain sight.”
Edwards touted the hard work of the patrol division, particular King and his squad. “They did an outstanding job, all of them, including the other patrol squads. Working together they were able to piece this together. They are out there, they see what’s going on and they followed up. All the credit goes to those in that division,” Edwards said.
With the investigation ongoing, police are still seeking information and asking for help from the public. Anyone who has information on any of the vehicle break-sin is urged to call the police tip line at 590-3009.
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